Mississippi Urban Forest Council February 8, 2012 Urban Forestry and Green Infrastructure Conference

Transcription

1 Slide 1 Urban Tree Risk Management A Comprehensive Framework Part II Mississippi Urban Forest Council Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Jackson, Mississippi February 7-8, 2012 This discussion of a comprehensive risk management program that can support local management & disaster planning is based on Urban Tree Risk Management: A Community Guide to Program Design and Implementation (Chapter Two)... and will guide city & urban forest managers through the development & implementation of the current (arboricultural) industry standard program for risk management... Urban Forestry South Athens, Georgia This presentation will delve into some of the detail of the framework for urban tree risk management that moves assessment to mitigation (i.e. appropriate action). Slide 2 Presentation Outline Part II Definition - Review The 10 Steps in Detail Resources & Standards Urban Forestry South is the Southern Region s urban & community forestry Technology Transfer Center which supports U&CF programs through state agencies and municipalities In this presentation I ll review definitions, discuss in more detail the steps in the guide, and conclude with the current list of arboricultural standards related to urban tree risk management. Slide 3 Definitions Review Basic definitions to understand Risk... is the combination of the likelihood of an event and the severity of the potential consequences. Hazard... Is a likely source of harm (or the consequence). Risk Assessment... is the systematic process to identify, analyze, and evaluate tree risk. Tree Risk Evaluation... Is the process of comparing the assessed risk against a given risk criteria to determine the significance of the risk (a key concept is threshold ). Urban Tree Risk Management... is the comprehensive framework for communicating, assessing, monitoring risk, and mitigating hazards associated with that risk. Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 1

2 Slide 4 Risk Management Program Design A Ten Step Process 1. Assess the tree resource 2. Review current management practices 3. Assess fiscal and human resources 4. Identify program goals 5. Formulate a tree risk management strategy 6. Prioritize inspection and corrective action 7. Select a tree rating system 8. Write a comprehensive risk policy 9. Implement the tree risk management strategy 10. Evaluate program effectiveness From Urban Tree Risk Management (A Community Guide to Program Design and Implementation)... Jill Pokorny, 2003 Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 2

3 Slide 5 What Do You Have Assess the tree resource Review management practices Assess fiscal & human resources A risk management plan does not a have to be a detailed tree assessment; the big picture is OK. But, can be the same baseline that supports your UF management plan. With some additional information. May need to determine value to justify the risk and management strategies; i-tree Eco, Streets Assess the tree resource A planning element & assessment: Recent data (current inventory) Can be complete inventory or sample Baseline study to collect general information: species size classes condition (risk associated) maintenance needs (pruning, removal) & cost Urban forest value (i-tree Eco/Streets) For urban forest management: Written policy Plans Ordinances Goals & strategies particularly relating to public safety Look across all for common goals look at other community departments Review current tree care budget: Look at estimated costs from your assessment deficient? Include costs/resources for inspections Mitigation at higher level Improved establishment & young tree care as part of risk management Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 3

4 Slide 6 What Do You Have Assess the tree resource A planning element & assessment: Recent data Can be complete inventory or sample Baseline study to collect general information: Species Size classes Condition (risk associated) Maintenance needs & costs Pruning, Removal, Planting Urban forest value (i-tree Eco/Streets) Not a detailed tree assessment; big picture. Can be the same baseline that supports your UF management plan. Determine value to justify the risk and management strategies; i-tree Eco, Streets Slide 7 What Do You Have Review management practices For urban forest management: Written policy Plans Ordinances Goals & strategies Particularly relating to public safety Look across all for common goals Look at other community departments See how various elements support or conflict. Review public safety issues. Include you local vegetation risk management plan (if available) Slide 8 What Do You Have Assess fiscal & human resources Review current tree care budget: Look at estimated costs from your assessment Deficient? Include costs/resources for inspections Mitigation at higher level Improved establishment & young tree care as part of risk management Is your current budget adequate to begin a more comprehensive program to inspect & mitigate. Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 4

5 Slide 9 What Do You Want Identify program goals Formulate a risk strategy Prioritize inspections & actions Locally, develop a picture of your community tree risk management program. Disaster related UF and EM objectives should be identified. Slide 10 What Do You Want Identify program goals Community working group/tree board: What will our risk management program accomplish Goals & strategies (get specific) Community working group/tree board: What will our risk management program accomplish Goals & strategies (get specific) Guiding principals: Increase public safety Promote tree health & sustainability Prevent hazardous defects: Sound arboricultural practices site species planting young tree care mature care Corrective actions young tree care address target issues prune & remove Tree risk zones: Trees Roads & streets Occupancy people places or sites (buildings) Locally, develop a picture of your community tree risk management program. Guiding principals: Increase public safety Promote tree health & sustainability Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 5

6 Slide 11 What Do You Want Formulate a risk strategy Prevent hazardous defects: Sound arboricultural practices Site Species Planting Young tree care Mature care Corrective actions Young tree care Address target issues Prune & remove If your assessment of practices found these elements missing, part of your strategy is to adopt necessary practices. Slide 12 Getting What You Want Prioritize inspection and corrective actions Tree risk inspection: Walk by (individual tree) inspections In-depth More costly Drive-by Fast May overlook defects Match the frequency & intensity of inspection with the zone. Same zones assist UF manager and local EM in disaster preparedness. Tree risk inspection schedule: Use zones to determine frequency & type Slide 13 What Do You Want Prioritize inspection and corrective actions Tree risk zones: Trees Roads & streets Occupancy People Places or sites (buildings) Identify components for your zones. A local disaster plan may have (or could use) this information. Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 6

7 Slide 14 Getting What You Want Select a tree rating system Write a risk policy Implement the tree risk strategies Evaluate program effectiveness Standardizing your risk inspections based on current arboricultural standards: Matheny & Clark (1994) ANSI A300 (Part 9) Tree Risk Assessment Tree Structure Best Management Practices: Tree Risk Assessment The No target, No risk concept applies for disaster planning also. Importance of standardized method: Repeatable Reliable Easier to maintain trained staff Standardize record keeping & data convenience accuracy Photographic Guide (12 point) Target (0-4) No target, No risk Size of part (1-4) Probability of failure (1-4) Critical element! The act of writing your risk policy is an important step that can refine your objectives, goals, and strategies. It makes it available to other municipal managers and staff, elected officials, and residents. The tree risk specification that adheres to ANSI A300 (Part 9)-2011 can be the basis for this more detailed policy Write, adopt, and enforce this policy: Must support all other policy & documents Community responsibility Administration (who is responsible) Rating system specified Inspection methods and schedules Process for corrective actions Action appeals How to handle violations of the policy Proper implementation requires resources and demands documentation (see ANSI A300 (Part 9) Tree Risk Assessment). Your local EM may have access to state mitigation funds for some of this work identified. Resources: Staff Training Documentation Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 7

8 Implementation documentation: Inspections Actions Failures Common outcomes from a well designed and implemented tree risk management plan. These are disaster-related outcomes also. Outcome based measurements & evaluation: Increased public safety Improved tree health Indicators (for measurement): Decline in number of high-risk trees Reduction in number of trees needing hazard pruning Reduction in storm damage (debris) Slide 15 Getting What You Want Select a tree rating system Importance of standardized method: Repeatable Reliable Easier to maintain trained staff Standardize record keeping & data Convenience Accuracy Photographic Guide (12 point) Target Size of part Probability of failure There are several to choose from.. Professionally applied Repeatable Reliable Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 8

9 Slide 16 Getting What You Want Write a risk policy Write, adopt, and enforce this policy: Must support all other policy & documents Community responsibility Administration (who is responsible) Rating system specified Inspection methods and schedules Process fro corrective actions Action appeals How to handle violations of the policy Critical element! Slide 17 Getting What You Want Implement tree risk strategy Resources: Staff Training Documentation Often the limiting factors Implementation documentation: Inspections Actions Failures Slide 18 Getting What You Want Evaluate program effectiveness Outcome based measurements & evaluation: Increased public safety Improved tree health Evaluate, adjust, repeat Indicators (for measurement): Decline in number of high-risk trees Reduction in number of trees needing hazard pruning Reduction in storm damage (debris) Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 9

10 Slide 19 Getting What You Want Prioritize inspection and corrective actions The risk zone map. Slide 20 Inspection Guidelines and Schedule Set inspection schedule based on risk zone classification (where have we heard this before!). Slide 21 Urban Tree Risk Management A Comprehensive Framework Any questions on the ten steps... Questions! Urban Forestry South Athens, Georgia Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 10

11 Slide 22 Tree Risk Plan: Outcomes Urban forest management Other municipal staff (roads, parks, sidewalks, electric) Local Emergency Management Elected officials Residents Implementation of an urban tree risk management program can benefit more than the urban forest manager. The EM link. Slide 23 Risk Mitigation Results Reduced claims as they relate to trees by 72% Reduced work order complaints and/or request for services by over 55% Reduced 911 and overtime expenditures for tree cleanup by over 69% Measured results from an aggressive tree risk management program in Columbus, Georgia (from Rachel Barker). Five year period Columbus, Georgia (R. Barker) Slide 24 Urban Tree Risk Management A Comprehensive Framework Any questions on the ten steps... Questions! Urban Forestry South Athens, Georgia Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 11

12 Slide 25 Resources: Tree Risk Management Use current arboricultural standards when developing your urban tree risk management plan Urban Tree Risk Management: A Community Guide to Program Design and Implementation NA-TP Jill D. Pokorny, USDA Forest Service, St. Paul, MN Primer on Risk Analysis: decision Making Under Uncertainty (Chapter 1) CRC Press - Charles Yoe ANSI A300 (Part 9)-2011 Tree Risk Assessment a. Tree Structure Assessment TCIA Best Management Practices: Tree Risk Assessment ISA T. Smiley, N. Matheny, S. Lilly 2012 A Photographic Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas (2 nd Edition) ISA N. Matheny, J. Clark 1994 Guide for Plant Appraisal (9 th Edition) ISA for CTLA 2000 Storms Over the Urban Forest (2 nd Edition) L. Burban USDA Forest Service Slide 26 Urban Tree Risk Management A Comprehensive Framework Any final questions or comments about this introduction to urban tree risk management? Discussion & Questions! Urban Forestry South Athens, Georgia Slide 27 Dudley R. Hartel Center Manager, Urban Forestry South Athens, Georgia A PDF of this presentation will be at Quick Search with urban tree risk (no quotes). (706) office dhartel@fs.fed.us Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 12

13 Slide 28 Emergency Slides for Q&A Risk Management Program Design A Ten Step Process 1. Assess the tree resource 2. Review current management practices 3. Assess fiscal and human resources 4. Identify program goals 5. Formulate a tree risk management strategy 6. Prioritize inspection and corrective action 7. Select a tree rating system 8. Write a comprehensive risk policy 9. Implement the tree risk management strategy 10. Evaluate program effectiveness The 10 steps to tree risk management; a detailed presentation outline. The Urban Tree Risk Index (UTRI) that we discuss later in the presentation is a modification of this approach to provide important vegetation and debris information necessary to a local disaster plan. Steps 1, 4, 5, 6 implement the UTRI model for urban tree risk management to support local EM. Slide 29 UF, Risk, & Disaster Management Now Disaster Plans UTRI or Risk Plan Pre-Storm Mitigation Disaster Planning Cycle Disaster Event An urban forest management workflow (or timeline) that uses UTRI or Urban Tree Risk Management to support local disaster planning: disaster planning at the local level (county) disaster plan vegetation plan debris plan risk management UTRI (the fast track to local disaster planning for vegetation) Urban Tree Risk Management (Pokorny) pre-storm mitigation based on priority areas established by urban tree risk management work on mitigation until disaster strikes! reassess tree risk or UTRI over a short horizon (3-5 years) Disaster Plans may include: County Disaster Plan (general, umbrella plan) Pre-Hazard Mitigation Plan UTRI fits in here State pre-hazard mitigation grants Vegetation Plan Debris Management Plan UTRI fits in here (planning for debris staging areas) Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 13

14 Slide 30 Slide 31 UF, Risk, & Disaster Management Disaster Event Disaster Planning Cycle UTRI or Risk Plan Response Summarize Process Recovery End of Cycle An urban forest management workflow (or timeline) that uses UTRI or Urban Tree Risk Management to support local disaster planning: during disaster response UTRI information is used for debris management (i.e. pile location, estimates of volume) could assist with UFST deployment (particularly reconnaissance) during recovery UTRI indexed road segments help determine & guide replanting post-recovery disaster planning cycle repeats UTRI or Urban Tree Risk Management is updated The last two graphics presented in a different format Urban Forest Management Tree inventory & general management plans Urban Tree Risk Management (Pokorny) Disaster Planning Vegetation Management Mitigation Plan Pre-storm mitigation Tree Risk Assessments Pruning Removals Planting Disaster Event! Disaster Response/Recovery Debris Assess Risk Mitigation (Pruning, Removals) Post-Disaster Planning Reevaluate (Risk Assessments) Mitigation (Pruning, Removals, Planting) Disaster Planning Cycle The disaster process outlined with urban forest management (including risk) involve. UF management can feed the disaster planning cycle, or if lacking, the UTRI ( fast track ) can be used. Urban Forestry South dhartel@fs.fed.us Page: 14